reminder on ticket news: 1) Tickets are £10 Adults and £5 Concessions (whether purchased in advance or on matchday). 2) As is usual policy, no cash turnstiles are in operation, so you need to visit the ticket office beforehand. 3) Concord Rangers fans must purchase tickets in advance - none are available to buy on matchday to away supporters. 4) We encourage supporters to buy tickets in advance on http://www.stagstickets.co.uk and use the print at home facility. Queues on matchday can sometimes be quite long and we wouldn't want anyone to miss the start of the match.

The Beach Boys, who ply their trade in the Vanarama South, will be determined to cup upset in what is their first ever appearance in the FA Cup proper.

Our team head into Saturday's match on the back of a disappointing 2-1 defeat to Southend United in Sky Bet League Two last Saturday.

Cox, who described that display as unacceptable, said: "We didn’t match the standards that we’ve shown throughout the last three-and-a-half years, but I can only count a handful of occasions when we’ve been like that.”

He continued: "In my opinion, we’ve not had the depth of quality in the squad, where I can rotate or leave one or two out and freshen them up mentally and physically. When a player has got tired we’ve only had young players come in who aren’t used to the intensity of League Two football.

“At this [level of] football it’s very fast and furious with a very high intensity and energy levels are zapped straight away and that is where as a manager, you want to look to your bench to make changes and freshen things up.”

Nevertheless, despite recent results, our manager is very upbeat and hopeful of an improvement of results: “Some of the boys are returning and hopefully in the run up to Christmas we’ll have a squad that will make itself easy to manage and we’re not looking around blaming injuries.

“Some of the boys have been playing at 100% for a number of games and it has taken its toll. This period has been one of the toughest in my managerial career and certainly while I’ve been at this football club.”

In team news, both Jamie Sendles-White and Daniel Carr are available for selection, having received permission from Queen’s Park Rangers and Huddersfield Town, respectively, to play in the FA Cup.

Striker Matt Rhead is also pushing for a return after featuring in a behind-closed-doors game at Alfreton Town in midweek.

However, striker Vadaine Oliver is ineligible as we haven't received permission from Crewe Alexandra for him to play, and full-back Kieron Freeman won’t make a return as he is still struggling with an ankle injury.

Our boss has also hinted that a new face may be added to our squad in time for Saturday’s game.

He added: “We’re looking to bring someone in, but we won’t just make signings for the sake of it. We want someone who will add quality to us.”

Paul Cox’s full interview from this morning’s press conference is available later today on Stags Player. To subscribe, click here.

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Cox looking to strengthen Stags squad as Concord land in town
chad.co.uk, 06 November 2014

Stags boss Paul Cox is hoping to add another loan signing before Saturday’s tricky home FA Cup first round tie with Concord Rangers as the first step towards building a far stronger squad before Christmas.

With budget cuts, Cox has tried to tackle the season with a smaller 22-man squad, but injuries saw half of those sidelined and left him unable to fill a bench and relying on loan players.

However, Cox has been lifted by the news that chairman John Radford will allow him to strengthen the squad and Cox has begun to wheel and deal quickly to get the players he needs before the busy festive period.

“My talks with the chairman have invigorated me a bit,” said Cox. “It has been positive. I am looking at the personnel we have here, not just the loan signings, and seeing who we want to keep and who can take this club forward.

“We need to look at the bigger picture and see what can be added.

“To implement what I want will take a bit of time and won’t happen overnight. We have got to get our injured players back which will ultimately get us back to doing the basics better.

“We have had a lot of loan players coming into the club who don’t realise what League Two is all about and it will be nice to get players back who understand the football at this level and our philosophy and who we are.

“People have been getting down about the last 11 games, but looking back it’s not been that bad with four defeats, four draws and three wins. But it has been the hardest spell of my managerial career. It has been tough just being able to put 11 players out and fill a bench.

“I want to get players back and then strengthen to take the club forward.”

Cox knows the side need to vastly improve on last week’s poor home showing against Southend, but insisted the squad size was a major factor in everyone turning in such a tired display.

“I can count on one hand how many times we have been like that in the three and half years,” he said.

“But there are always factors why. I have no cheats in my dressing room. But we do lack depth. I want to be able to look at the bench or up in the stand and see opportunities to make changes or freshen things up.

“You want players fresh mentally and physically. But we have been flogging people day in day out, match to match, and that has taken its toll with injuries and performances.

“You can’t get away with trying to play the same XI and lack depth and hope to be successful.

“Building into Christmas and round the bend, I want to have a bigger squad which will make it easier to manage and not always blame injuries. I know I can’t ask for untold riches as I am not going to get it. The main thing is to look forward and build.”

Stags will be expected to dispatch Conference South side Concord Rangers and be in the second round hat on Monday night, but Cox is leaving nothing to chance.

“I love the FA Cup and I think every football supporter should love to be part if it,” he said.

“Me and one or two other people here have been in Concord’s position, looking for a giantkilling.

“We have also come up against the likes of Liverpool and would love to emulate two years ago, though without the replays.

“It was funny how things turned out. We had to go to Slough for a replay where we won on penalties with maybe a bit of luck involved.

“Then we were 2-1 down against Lincoln and on 94 minutes Matt Rhead equalised. They came here for the replay, we won the game and then drew Liverpool. That’s the beauty of the FA Cup.

“To win on Saturday we will have to be strong mentally and make sure we are as focused as we have ever been.

“They will come here smelling blood. It is their cup final. They will give everything and we will have to match their desire and hunger. We must be strong and resolute. We have to do the bread and butter and let our performance tell the story.

“We have had them watched three times and done our homework - I have good contacts on the south coast. We are treating the game as if it were a League Two game or if we were playing Liverpool. We can’t afford to take our eyes off this game as what lays beyond it is amazing.”

Stags are able to play QPR loanee Jamie Sendles-White and Huddersfield loanee Daniel Carr on Saturday and could have a new loan face too. But Derby’s Keiron Freeman is still injured and Crewe don’t want striker Vadaine Oliver cup-tied.

Stags should be boosted by the return of battering ram striker Matt Rhead from a hamstring injury, Rhead coming through a midweek behind-closed-doors game against Alfreton Town.

Cox said: “We had two or three trialists in the game, one or two lads who wanted to get a bit out of their system, and one or two lads with knocks, people who needed a run out.

“It was a very competitive game. We won it 4-2, but the score is irrelevant. It was all about the intensity of the game and match fitness.

“There are 48 hours to go until Saturday and so I don’t want to rule anyone out. But Matt is at the front of the queue to return. He has got a game under his belt and been training well.”

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Taylor: We must be professional
mansfieldtown.net, 6th November 2014

Experienced full-back/winger keen to avoid cup shock when we take on Concord Rangers.

Defender Rob Taylor is keen to prevent us from becoming victims of an FA Cup giant-killing act, when we take on non-league Concord Rangers in the first round this weekend.

The Beach Boys, who are managed by Danny Cowley, compete in the Vanarama South and are 41 places below us in the football pyramid, but will be keen to have caused a shock by 5.00pm on Saturday.

This is Concord's first ever appearance in the FA Cup proper and Taylor knows that he and his team-mates will have to be on top of their game to book a place in Round Two.

“The FA Cup is always a good day and they’ll be absolutely buzzing,” said the left-sided player.

“There are always those games where teams mess up, but you’ve just got to go out there and be as professional about it as you can and try and get into the next round.

“The FA Cup brings a lot, whether it’s money or commercial aspects, and it’s all good for the club.”

On his own memories of playing in the competition, he said: “I’ve never done great in the FA Cup. I’ve got to the fourth round and played a few big clubs, but I’ve normally done better in the League Cup.”

“I think for the first 50-60 minutes, it wasn’t good enough. It showed and we left it too late [to get anything from the game] in the end.

“For whatever reason, the boys just didn’t get going, although we still created chances and got balls into the box, but you can’t be losing 2-0 towards the end and hoping to get something out of it.”

Now back fully fit following a rare illness which hampered his progress earlier in the season, Taylor is determined to establish himself as a first team regular in the coming weeks and months.

Describing his time on the sidelines, the 29-year-old, who joined us on a free transfer from Port Vale in the summer, said: “It was kind of like a stomach virus and it was really knocking me about. I was literally just getting fatigued and having no energy.

“I spoke to the gaffer and sometimes you put yourself in the firing line, but I’m no good out there if I’m not 100% and able to play the way that I wanted to, so I had to step out for three to four weeks.”

He added: “I’m okay now, feeling pretty good, and I’m getting my fitness and sharpness back. I’ve had a few tests and I’ve just got to watch what I eat and be professional about things, but it’s all good now and it’s been good to start the last couple of games.”

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Taylor shakes off illness at last to chase Stags success
chad.co.uk, 07 November 2014

Rob Taylor has finally shaken off the illness that has plagued him in recent weeks and is hoping to cement his place back in the Mansfield Town side.

“It was like a stomach virus and was really knocking me about. I literally got fatigued and had no energy.

“I spoke to the gaffer and sometimes you put yourself in the firing line, but I am not good out there if I am not 100 per cent fit and able to play how I want to. So I had to step out for three or four weeks.

“I am okay now and feeling pretty good. I am getting my fitness and sharpness back and it’s been good to start the last two games.

“I had a few tests done and I have to watch what I eat. I have been very professional about it and it’s all good now.”

Taylor was part of the side that flopped 2-1 at home to Southend last week and said: “For the first hour we were not good enough. We left it too late to be fair.

“After the York game we thought we could carry that form into last Saturday but, for whatever, reason the boys didn’t get going, though we still created chances.

“We have drawn four of the last five. We are not getting battered every week - the game have been close. But we need to be hitting form before December as that’s when the league starts to break up - it’s quite close now.”

Taylor is a left winger by trade but he is more than happy to fit into the side at left wing back, even if the Stags’ direct style of play has taken some getting used to after his move from League One Port Vale.

“I have played wing back roles before and enjoyed it. Here is it a bit more direct so there is a bit more of a fitness element to it,” he said.

“Also, the gaffer has brought in other players so there is competition on that wing. Keiron Freeman and Lee Beevers can play there so just because I have started the last two games doesn’t mean I will play on Saturday. All you can do is try to be the best you can.

“When I first came here it was a bit of a shock in training as it was such a high tempo. You didn’t get a chance to put your foot on the ball. But that’s how the boys like to play and it can be a very positive thing. It has got us results and if we can get back to that way and play to our strengths we can stop this winless streak.

“Playing direct doesn’t just mean long ball. You can still get it down and play at times. You play direct but you also play smart as well. We have a lot of talented players in this squad. I was quite surprised when I came here that we have a lot of very good footballers and, if we can mix that into how the gaffer wants to play, I am sure we will be successful.”

Although Taylor has enjoyed some good League Cup runs, the FA Cup has never been that kind to him yet.

“I have never had a big run in the FA Cup, though I’ve been to round four a few times,” he said.

“They (Concord) will be absolutely buzzing. We know people can mess up in these games and we need to be as professional as we can to try to get to the next round.”

Stags host a visit from Conference South Concord Rangers in round one and Studer said: “I have always heard about it (the FA Cup). It is a big cup and I am really looking forward to the first round.

“I hope we can get through as I have heard we can have Premier League teams.

“It is the same in Switzerland, you can have much lower league teams that you’ve maybe never heard about. They are always hard to play against. They are 100 per cent motivated. They come here and can’t lose anything.

“But we have to win - nothing else. If we can’t score in the first half then it’s more pressure, more pressure, more pressure.

“We need to get back to winning. At least we had been drawing games and not losing. But last week we didn’t have that winning spirit in the first half. We got it after the goal but we need it earlier.”

Studer is still learning the game and admits his kicking was poor at York last month where he gifted the Minsterman a goal.

“I am always critical about my game, not just my kicking,” he said. “I want to improve everything. My kicking at York was horrible and I spoke to the gaffer who gave me help to train that which I appreciated.”

But Studer is a big hit with young fans at Mansfield, who appreciate his efforts to meet their requests for autographs.

“I do it for the kids. It is important to me as they come to see their idols and it makes me happy if they are happy,” he smiled.

Studer’s command of English is also rapidly improving and he added: “I have been here for three months and I can’t speak German to anyone so I need to speak English and that’s helped, but I can still improve it.”

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FA Cup: Good Vibrations for Canvey Island's Beach Boys
bbc.co.uk

Concord Rangers chairman Antony Smith hopes their debut appearance in the first round of the FA Cup will bring them greater exposure.

The Conference South side, who are based on Canvey Island in Essex, travel to Mansfield Town on Saturday.
Nicknamed the Beach Boys, the club are enjoying their most successful spell since being formed in 1967.
"For people far and wide, there's probably no chance they'd have heard of us before this," Smith told BBC London.
"It's great for everyone because a lot of hard work has gone on here.
"Just to see the club's name come up in the live draw, with Phil Neville pulling us out, was fantastic.
"The prize money has been huge for us already. We invest heavily back into the club and our youth section."
Rangers have long been in the shadow of Canvey Island FC, who were in the Conference between 2004 and 2006.
However, following three promotions in six seasons Rangers are now in Conference South - one division above their cross-island rivals.
"Canvey were leagues ahead of us for years and now we are above them in league stature and grabbing the limelight," Smith said.
"There are people who still come to the club for functions or weddings and say 'we've never been here'. They could have lived on Canvey Island for 10 years."
Concord Rangers owe their unusual name and nickname to a beach on Canvey Island.
"It derives from Albert Lant, the president and founder of the club," Smith said.
"Along with his son Steve they had a group of boys who wanted to play and they lived close by to the seafront.
"There is a beach there called Concord Beach and they picked that name and became Concord Rangers.
"Albert is not too well at the moment but he comes to every game home and away and saw us get promotion to Conference South last year."
Mansfield are currently 18th in League Two but Smith is upbeat about their chances of progressing and keeping their hopes of facing a Premier League side in the third round alive.
"The main thing for us is that there is no pressure on our players - it's all on Mansfield," he said.
"The FA Cup is the dream for everyone at this level. We saw Havant & Waterlooville go to Liverpool a few years ago. It can happen.
"That is what we will be searching for on Saturday."

The Beachboys First Round tie comes the day after Gardner’s 24th birthday and the day his mum Lorraine turns 50. And the midfielder is aiming to round off the perfect weekend with another decisive contribution in Concord colours.

Gardner has been an important member of Danny Cowley’s squad this term, having joined in February, and has been a vital component of the club’s march to its first ever FA Cup First Round appearance.

He hit the only goal at St Albans City in the final qualifying round and the Beachboys would not have made it past the second qualifying round had it not been for his injury time equaliser at Wealdstone. Concord won the replay 2-0.

“It is a big weekend for me,” said Gardner. “It isn’t every day you play in the FA Cup First Round and it happens to be the same day as my mum’s birthday. I turn 24 today so it would be the perfect way to celebrate if we could beat Mansfield.

“My mum would have loved to have come and support the team, but she will be doing that from home.”

Gardner does know what it feels like to win in the First Round, having been part of the Redbridge team that beat Oxford City to reach Round Two in 2011.

And he aims to draw on that experience tomorrow.

“It helps having played in this round before,” he said. “I have spoken to the boys about it and it brings back good memories and I want to make new memories with Concord Rangers.

“It is a great group of boys. I look at the bench sometimes and think what a great squad we have and a win would bring us even closer together.”

Gardner admitted he was pleased to score the winner against St Albans in a high-profile match, but was quick to pass off his contribution as a team effort.

“I have scored a few goals in the cup and another one would be great,” he added.

“The team was excellent that day and, but for a few great saves from the keeper, the defence didn’t look like letting anything through.

“We will need to repeat that tomorrow but have confidence in our ability and believe we can win.”

OPPOSITION FOCUS

MANSFIELD Town welcome back powerful striker Matt Rhead for the visit of Concord Rangers.

Rhead, who won three of the club’s four individual awards last season, came through a behind-closed doors friendly in his recovery from a hamstring injury in the week. His return could see the Stags revert to their favoured 3-5-2 formation.

They were missing nine first-team players for the visit of Southend United last weekend and their squad includes former Concord Rangers man Ryan Tafazolli, although he will miss tomorrow’s game through injury.

QPR’s Jamie Sendles-White and Huddersfield’s Daniel Carr are eligible after their parent clubs gave them permission to play.

Mansfield have not won in their last seven matches, slipping to 18th in the League Two table.

And manager Paul Cox told Echosport his team would not be taking Concord lightly.

“We’ve had Concord watched and they’re a good team,” said Cox.

“We're in for a tough game and it's going to be even tougher if we play like we did in the opening 75 minutes against Southend.

“The way we applied ourselves during that time won’t be tolerated.”

Concord beat St Albans in the final qualifying round, and will be aware that Mansfield crushed the Hertfordshire club 8-1 at this stage last season.